Patent GB-1089525-A (GB)
Title: Modified polypropylene fibers and method for preparing the same
IPC: C08K5/00
Filed: 1964-10-21
Abstract: Polypropylene fibres having good abrasion resistance comprise polypropylene and 1 to 20 weight per cent based on the polypropylene of an abrasion resistant agent comprising (A) a paraffin hydrocarbon of molecular weight 500 to 3000 and having 6 or less methyl groups per 100 carbon atoms and (B) 5 to 20 weight per cent based on (A) of polyethylene.  The paraffin hydrocarbon may be obtained from natural sources, or by the polymerization of petroleum refinery hydrocarbons. The fibres may also comprise dyeability modifiers, e.g. copolmers of alkenyl pyridines with alkenyl aromatic compounds, metal salts or anion exchange substances, polyesters, polyamides, polystyrene, polyvinyl pyridine, polyacrylic esters and esters and amides of higher fatty-acids, optionally together with dyeing assistants, e.g. condensates of alkylene oxides with alcohols, phenols, glycols, glycol semi-esters and alkylamines; polyethylene glycols; polypropylene glycols; and random and block ethylene oxide/propylene oxide copolymers.  To reduce slip the fibres may be heat treated under tension after immersing in a solution or dispersion of polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetal, polymethyl methacrylate, polystyrene, polyurethane, polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, alkyd resin, urea resin, melamine resin, phenolic resin, xylene resin, silicone resin, epoxy resin, petroleum resin, coumarone resin, petroleum resin, rosin, tupentine resin or natural or synthetic rubber.  Many suitable materials are listed, and many examples are given of fibres made of polypropylene, paraffin hydrocarbon and polyethylene, optionally with dyeability modifiers and dyeing assistants, and optionally impregnated to reduce slip.  The products are suitable for making wearing apparel and fishing nets, ropes and the like.ALSO:The dye receptivity of fibres made of compositions comprising polyproylene and 1 to 20 weight per cent based on the polypropylene of an abrasion resistant agent consisting essentially of (A) a paraffin hydrocarbon of molecular weight 500 to 3000 and having 6 or less methyl groups per 100 carbon atoms and (B) 5 to 20 weight per cent based on (A) of polyethyene, may be improved by incorporating therein a dyeability modifier which is a polymer of a polymerisable pyridine derivative or a metal compound, and/or a dyeing assistant selected from polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers, polyoxyethylene phenyl ethers, polyoxyethylene glycol esters of aliphatic and aromatic acids, polyoxyethylene alkylamines, polyoxyalkylene glycols, polyoxypropylene glycol esters of aliphatic and aromatic acids, polyoxypropylene alkyl ethers, polyoxypropylene phenyl ethers, random ethylene oxide (propylene oxide copolymers, polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol.  The modifier may be a styrene/vinyl pyridine copolymer or a carboxylate or phenate of calcium, barium, magnesium, zinc, cadmium, aluminium, tin, lead, titanium, chromium, cobalt or nickel, many suitable compounds being specified.  Examples describe the dyeing of abrasion resistant polypropylene fibres containing (4) a styrene/2-methyl-5-vinylpyridine copolymer with acid dyes and containing (5) nickel stearate or a water or laurylamine complex of nickel salts of bis(2-hydroxy-5-t. octylphenyl) sulphone.  Reduction of slip in polypropylene fibres made of abrasion resistant compositions as defined above may be effected by impregnating the fibres with a solution or dispersion of a resin or elastomer, optionally together with friction increasing, antistatic, starching and finishing agents, surfactants and softeners, and heating the impregnated fibres under tension. Specified impregnants are poyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl acetate, polyviny alcohol, polyvinyl acetal, polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polyesters, polyurethanes, polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, cellulose derivatives; urea, phenolic, melamine, xylene, silicone and epoxy resins; butadiene, isoprene, polysulphide, silicone, fluorocarbon, urethane, chlorosulphonated polyethylene, olefin copolymer, vinyl and natural rubbers; and rosin, shellac and coumarone and petroleum resins.  The preferred impregnants for reducing slip in fibres for (1) fishing nets are coumarone resin, rosin and neoprene rubber; (2) ropes are coumarone, acrylic, melamine and vinyl acetate resins, rosin and neoprene and vinyl rubbers, preferably with epoxy, phenolic or alkyd resin for dielectric heating; and (3) fabrics are coumarone, vinyl acetate, acetal and polyolefin resins, rosin and natural and neoprene rubbers.  In examples fibres for fishing net yarns are impregnated with (7) an emulsion prepared by dispersing a xylene solution of a coumarone resin in water containing oleic acid/monoethanolamine and anhydrous silicic acid as friction increasing agent; and yarns for making ropes are impregnated with (8) an aqueous emulsion of polyvinyl acetate containing glycerine.